When the film went into production it was just another low budgeted Universal release. British director Michael Apted had been chosen to direct. At the time he had only one major credit to his name although he had been lauded for his documentary Up series, which he began filming in 1964 and which continued for 50 years documenting the lives of f14 British children picking them up every seven years.

He brought that same gritty realism to Loretta Lynn’s story, and as a result, he quickly became an A-list Hollywood director. Among his later works were Gorillas in the Mist and Enigma. The film was both a critical and box office success and ended grossing over $70 million. It cost only six. Spacek’s casting was Loretta Lynn’s idea based on a photograph she had seen of her. Spacek was at first reluctant to play the role but allowed to do her own singing she accepted. Tommy Lee Jones played her husband, a role once intended for Robert Redford. Prior to this, Spacek had played only unconventional characters in Carrie, Three Women, and Badlands.